Teamsters Rail Conference Supports Barrows Nomination

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International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Sep 10, 2010, 04:56 ET

Candidate for Railroad Retirement Board Brings Experience to Role

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Teamster Rail Conference Policy Committee, in a unanimous decision, will support submitting the name of Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen International Secretary-Treasurer Walt Barrows for nomination to the post of Labor Member, United States Railroad Retirement Board.

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Walt Barrows was recently reelected to the position of International Secretary-Treasurer of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen. He was first elected to the position in 1999, after serving as General Chairman of the Norfolk Southern General Committee and Grand Lodge Trustee. Barrows began his railroad career on the Norfolk and Western Railway in 1974. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for the National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust.

The Policy Committee, which announced its decision earlier today, is comprised of members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, both divisions of the Rail Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

"Walt Barrows is the most qualified person for this important post and will serve all of Rail Labor admirably," said Dennis R. Pierce, President of the Teamsters Rail Conference.

Perry K. Geller Sr., Teamsters Rail Conference Secretary-Treasurer added, "The BMWED is glad to support Walt. We believe he will do a great job and look forward to his appointment."

If nominated and confirmed, Barrows would replace outgoing Labor Member V. M. "Butch" Speakman on the three member board. Speakman announced in July that he would be retiring at the end of the year.

The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board, headquartered in Chicago, administers a federal retirement benefit program and other benefits for the nation's railroad workers.

The Rail Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 80,000 hardworking men and women employed as locomotive engineers, trainmen and maintenance of way workers on freight and passenger rail lines across the United States.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters